ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Department of Atomic Energy
Lithium Reserves in Karnataka
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research , a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy and Geological Survey of India are two agencies which are involved in mineral exploration. AMD has the mandate of surveying, prospecting and development of resources of uranium, thorium, niobium, tantalum, lithium, beryllium and Rare Earth Elements  as these minerals are required for supporting the Nuclear Power Programme of the country. Lithium is a key element for new technologies and finds its in ceramics, glass, telecommunication and aerospace industries. The well- known uses of lithium are in Lithium ion batteries, lubricating grease, high energy additive to rocket propellants, optical modulators for mobile phones and as convertor to tritium used as a raw material for thermonuclear reactions i.e. fusion. The thermonuclear application makes Lithium as "Prescribed substance" under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 which permits AMD for exploration of Lithium in various geological domains of the country. Due to the continuously increasing demand of Lithium ion batteries, the requirement of Lithium has increased over last few years. Keeping the national interest in mind, AMD has intensified exploration for lithium in various geological domains of the country.
Recently, news items on Lithium exploration and resource of Allapatna - Marlagalla sector in Srirangapatna Taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka have been published in various media. In this regard, it is clarified that AMD is the sole exploration agency which is exploring the area for spodumene  and niobium-tantalum  minerals from pegmatite gravels since 1979 to 1998  and again since 2013 .
Likewise, news items on exploratory work by AMD to extract lithium from brine pools of Rajasthan and Gujarat and the mica belts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh have also been published, where exploration by AMD is in preliminary and reconnaissance stage. Exploration is continuous process where data is dynamic and updated based on positive and negative results. Reports have been circulated in some media, wherein the estimates of lithium metal have been quoted to be as high as 14,100 tonnes in a small patch of surveyed area in Mandya district of Southern Karnataka. AMD would like to clarify that exploration efforts have so far established 1600 tonnes lithium in inferred category  in Allapatna - Marlagalla sector in Srirangapatna taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka. This is a preliminary estimate and requires further exploration efforts to convert the estimated resources to exploitable category with high degree of confidence level and explore the possibility of augmenting Li resources in the area. Further, unless a proper technology/method is available to profitably extract lithium from its ore, the real benefit of exploration may not be there. With the data presently available with AMD, the the exploration cannot actual economic benefits at t stage.
Meanwhile, AMD is carrying out exploration to augment lithium resources in other potential geological domains of the country. Further work in this direction is in progress.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Construction of Four and Six Lane National Highway in the Country
The state-wise details of four/six lane works undertaken by National Highways of Authority  are annexed. The projects in the North-Eastern States are generally taken up by the Ministry through its other executing agencies such as National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited , Border Roads Organization  and various State Public Works Departments . In the State of Tripura, one work of around 25 km length with total capital cost of Rs. 2026 crore is under implementation by NHIDCL.
The Ministry keeps on receiving proposals from various State Governments /UTs, for declaration / upgradation of State Roads, including State Highways , as new NHs. State roads, including State Highways , are declared as National Highways  from time to time on the basis of well-established principles. The important criteria for declaration of NHs include the following:
i. Roads running through length / breadth of the country.
ii. Connecting adjacent countries, National Capitals with State Capitals / mutually the State Capitals, major ports, non-major ports, large industrial centers or tourist centers.
iii. Roads having important strategic requirement in hilly and isolated area.
iv. Arterial roads which enable sizeable reduction in travel distance and achieve substantial economic growth.
v. Roads which help in opening up large tracts of backward area and hilly region.
vi. Roads contributing towards achievement of National Highways grid of 100 km.
vii. Synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 
The Ministry considers declaration of some State roads, including State Highways , as NHs from time to time based on the fulfillment of the criteria, requirement of connectivity, inter-se priority and availability of funds.
State-wise details of four/six lane works undertaken by NHAI
|
|
Sr. No
|
|
Name of the State / Union Territory
|
|
Total No. of Works
|
|
Total Length 
|
|
Total Capital Cost 
|
|
1
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
23
|
|
514
|
|
16832
|
|
2
|
|
Assam
|
|
10
|
|
220
|
|
7100
|
|
3
|
|
Bihar
|
|
24
|
|
1033
|
|
37375
|
|
4
|
|
Chhattisgarh
|
|
6
|
|
250
|
|
6427
|
|
5
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
20
|
|
724
|
|
15535
|
|
6
|
|
Haryana
|
|
22
|
|
656
|
|
27363
|
|
7
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
8
|
|
160
|
|
8703
|
|
8
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
11
|
|
410
|
|
12539
|
|
9
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
25
|
|
1179
|
|
36460
|
|
10
|
|
Kerala
|
|
19
|
|
583
|
|
50458
|
|
11
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
25
|
|
820
|
|
17000
|
|
12
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
45
|
|
1967
|
|
50488
|
|
13
|
|
Odisha
|
|
18
|
|
722
|
|
15845
|
|
14
|
|
Punjab
|
|
23
|
|
816
|
|
31352
|
|
15
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
19
|
|
623
|
|
14864
|
|
16
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
34
|
|
963
|
|
32545
|
|
17
|
|
Telangana
|
|
11
|
|
374
|
|
10829
|
|
18
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
46
|
|
1684
|
|
63612
|
|
19
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
14
|
|
257
|
|
12827
|
|
20
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
7
|
|
405
|
|
10358
|
|
21
|
|
Delhi
|
|
6
|
|
70
|
|
8664
|
|
22
|
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
|
16
|
|
340
|
|
24855
This information was given by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Rice sowing area surpasses 411 lakh hectares
Shri Anna/Coarse cereals sown area crosses 186 lakh hectares
Sugarcane area stood at 59.91 lakh hectares
Kharif Crop sowing crosses 1102 lakh hectares
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has released progress of area coverage under kharif crops as on 22nd September 2023.
Area: In lakh hactare
|
|
S.
No.
|
|
Crop
|
|
Area Sown
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
1
|
|
Rice
|
|
411.52
|
|
400.72
|
|
2
|
|
Pulses
|
|
122.57
|
|
128.49
|
|
a
|
|
Arhar
|
|
43.69
|
|
46.06
|
|
b
|
|
Urdbean
|
|
32.79
|
|
33.31
|
|
c
|
|
Moongbean
|
|
31.56
|
|
33.92
|
|
d
|
|
Kulthi
|
|
0.44
|
|
0.45
|
|
e
|
|
Other pulses
|
|
14.09
|
|
14.75
|
|
3
|
|
Shri Anna cum Coarse cereals
|
|
186.07
|
|
183.73
|
|
a
|
|
Jowar
|
|
14.29
|
|
15.72
|
|
b
|
|
Bajra
|
|
70.94
|
|
70.58
|
|
c
|
|
Ragi
|
|
10.50
|
|
10.39
|
|
d
|
|
Small millets
|
|
5.69
|
|
5.03
|
|
e
|
|
Maize
|
|
84.65
|
|
82.01
|
|
4
|
|
Oilseeds
|
|
192.91
|
|
196.08
|
|
a
|
|
Groundnut
|
|
43.89
|
|
45.51
|
|
b
|
|
Soybean
|
|
125.59
|
|
124.77
|
|
c
|
|
Sunflower
|
|
0.71
|
|
2.04
|
|
d
|
|
Sesamum
|
|
12.33
|
|
13.32
|
|
e
|
|
Niger
|
|
0.82
|
|
1.06
|
|
f
|
|
Castor
|
|
9.47
|
|
9.23
|
|
g
|
|
Other Oilseeds
|
|
0.11
|
|
0.14
|
|
5
|
|
Sugarcane
|
|
59.91
|
|
55.66
|
|
6
|
|
Jute & Mesta
|
|
6.59
|
|
6.98
|
|
7
|
|
Cotton
|
|
123.42
|
|
127.57
|
|
Total
|
|
1102.99
|
|
1099.23
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s COVID-19 Recovery Rate climbs to 67.62%, as total recoveries cross 13.2 lakh
Case Fatality Rate  continues to slide, improves to 2.07%
The total recoveries of COVID-19 patients have jumped to 13,28,336 with 46,121 COVID-19 patients being discharged in the last 24 hours. With such consistent increase in recoveries, the gap between recovered patients and active COVID-19 cases has reached 7,32,835.
The recovery rate has continued its upward journey to reach another record high of 67.62% amongst COVID-19 patients.
The actual case load of the country is the active cases  which is 30.31% of the total positive cases. They are under medical supervision either in hospitals or in home isolation.
The active cases as a percentage of total cases have seen a significant drop from 34.17% on 24th July 2020 to 30.31% as on today.
Under the ‘Whole of Government’ approach, the public and private sector resources are combined towards the COVID-19 response and management under the Centre-led strategy. Focused implementation of “Test Track Treat” strategy by the Union and State/UT governments, ramped up hospital infrastructure and testing facilities, and emphasis on treatment of the hospitalized patients through the Standard of Care protocol advised by the Centre have effectively ensured that mortality of COVID-19 patients is contained. As a result, the Case Fatality Rate  has been low when compared to the global scenario and it has been progressively falling. The Case Fatality Rate stands at 2.07% today.
For all authentic & updated information on COVID-19 related technical issues, guidelines & advisories please regularly visit: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/ and @MoHFW_INDIA.
Technical queries related to COVID-19 may be sent to technicalquery.covid19[at]gov[dot]in and other queries on ncov2019[at]gov[dot]in and @CovidIndiaSeva .
In case of any queries on COVID-19, please call at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare helpline no.: +91-11-23978046 or 1075 . List of helpline numbers of States/UTs on COVID-19 is also available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/coronvavirushelplinenumber.pdf.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles demise of noted writer, Binapani Mohanty
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the demise of noted writer, Binapani Mohanty. Shri Modi said that Binapani Mohanty has made monumental contributions to Odia literature, especially fiction writing.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"Pained by the passing away of noted writer Binapani Mohanty Ji. She made monumental contributions to Odia literature, especially fiction writing. Her works have been translated in various languages and attained great popularity. Condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti."
Ministry of Defence
Installation of Oxygen Plants by Drdo
A total of 931 PSA plants have been installed by DRDO under PM Cares Fund at 869 sites during COVID-19 pandemic. The state-wise details of the number of oxygen plants installed during COVID-19 pandemic period between 2019-2021 by DRDO are given below:
|
|
States/ UTs
|
|
No. of plants Installed
|
|
A&N Island
|
|
2
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
19
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
|
20
|
|
Assam
|
|
31
|
|
Bihar
|
|
45
|
|
Chandigarh
|
|
2
|
|
Chhattisgarh
|
|
43
|
|
Dadra and Nagar Haveli + Daman and Diu
|
|
4
|
|
Delhi
|
|
16
|
|
Goa
|
|
5
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
45
|
|
Haryana
|
|
28
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
13
|
|
J&K
|
|
28
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
29
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
36
|
|
Kerala
|
|
19
|
|
Ladakh
|
|
4
|
|
Lakshadweep
|
|
Nil
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
56
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
36
|
|
Manipur
|
|
14
|
|
Meghalaya
|
|
11
|
|
Mizoram
|
|
13
|
|
Nagaland
|
|
12
|
|
Odisha
|
|
36
|
|
Puducherry
|
|
1
|
|
Punjab
|
|
29
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
48
|
|
Sikkim
|
|
3
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
62
|
|
Telangana
|
|
37
|
|
Tripura
|
|
13
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
103
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
19
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
49
|
|
Grand Total
|
|
931
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Satish Chandra Dubey in Rajya Sabha today.
ABB/DK/Savvy
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Special Service and Features
PRODUCT RECALL OF NOT CONFORMING BIS STANDARD MARK  GOODS
The Bureau Indian Standards grants the licence based on successful assessment of the manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, quality control and testing capabilities of the manufacturer through a visit to its manufacturing premises. Conformity of the product to the relevant standard is also established through third party laboratory testing or testing in the manufacturing premises or a combination of both.
And during the operation of the Licensee periodic assessment of quality compliance carried out through factory as well as market surveillance.
During the recent surveillance the following BIS certified products of operative Licensees found not conforming and risk to human and might endanger the consumer or seller at risk. The BIS Licensee were advised to withdraw the particular Batch of product from market before they result in injury or damage.
For More details/clarifications, kindly contact Mr.Jose Charles, Scientist-D,BIS at 9567643978. According to the press release issued by Deputy Director – Marketing &Consumer Affairs, Thiru H.Ajay Khanna
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 192.27 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 20.53 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
|
|
VACCINE DOSES
|
|

|
|
SUPPLIED
|
|
1,92,27,23,625
|
|
BALANCE AVAILABLE
|
|
20,53,77,891
More than 192.27 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 20.53 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Protection of Stray Animals 
Government of Madhya Pradesh is already implementing scheme for protection of stray animals  called “Mukhya Mantri Gau Seva Yojna” with the convergence of MGNREGA. Animal Welfare Board of India is also providing assistance to the Animal Welfare Organizations including Gaushalas for establishment of Shelter under Shelter Grant and assistance for feed, fodder and veterinary care under Regular Grant.
No such information is maintained by the Central Government. However, as informed by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, 25 Gaushalas are operated by the Non-Government Organizations in Bhopal which are registered by the Gosamverdhan board and provide assistance for fodder. Under Mukya Mantri Gauseva Yojna with convergence with MGNREGA during 2019- 20, 15 number Gaushalas were opened and functional and construction of 42 Gaushalas are at the construction stage during 2020-21.
This information was given by The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri. Parshottam
Rupala in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.
MV/MG
Election Commission
Peaceful Voting in Phase IV of the General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jharkhand, 2019
The Fourth Phase of election took place in 15 AssemblyConstituencies  covered in 4 districts  on 16.12.2019.
The poll today went off peacefully, without any incident,with very enthusiastic participation of voters including PWDs, seniorcitizens, youth etc.
4,203 out of 6,101 polling stations  werecategorized as critical; adequate security arrangements were made.
74 polling stations required dispatching polling teams two days inadvance.
2 choppers were deployed to drop 158 polling personnel.
This phase covered 47,85,009 voters, including 7,430 servicevoters and 64,318 PwD voters. 221 Candidates including 22 femaleand 1 third gender Candidates are in fray.
4,039 Volunteers facilitated bringing PwD voters from their housesto the polling stations. 3,432 vehicles were deployed to facilitatetheir transport. 2,504 wheelchairs were provided at the PollingStations.
For the first time Absentee Voter status was provided to PwD and80+ Voters of 3 Assembly Constituencies and they were given thefacility to vote through Postal Ballot at their doorstep. A total of1216 PwD and 80+ voters exercised their franchise using thisprovision of Postal Ballot.
The Commission put in place an elaborate mechanism to curb themisuse of money power. Total value of seizures across the State tilltoday is Rs 16.97 Crore.
In four Assembly Constituencies of Phase-IV ,31-Gandey, 36-Bokaro and 41-Jharia ACs), the Booth App tofacilitate voters to know about the number of voters in the queuewas used successfully.
- Approx. voter turnout figures  :
At the time of release of the Press Note, the voting in some of thePolling Stations was still going on. The final Voting Turnout will beknown after the verification and scrutiny of Presiding Officers’ Diariesand other documents. As of reports received till 5.00 pm, the approximatevoter turnout figure for all the 15 ACs of 4th phase today is 62.46 %. Thefinal voter turnout in LAE 2014 for these 15 ACs was 64.66%.
- EVMs &VVPATs :
No complaint regarding EVM/VVPAT have been reported during the polltoday. Across the 15 ACs today, as per figures received till now only 0.30 %BUs, 0.28 % CUs and 0.87 % VVPATs were replaced, which is one of the lowest replacement.
MR/AC
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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
IFFI 53 To Get a Taste of Mexican Salsa
IFFI 53 to Celebrate Contemporary Mexican Cinema
#IFFIWOOD, 10th November 2022
Mexico is a country known for its vibrant culture and storied history. Today, another addition to the country’s ever growing cultural heritage is its cinema. Legends such as Alejandro González Iñárritu, Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón and Carlos Reygadas, have produced world class films and won international critical acclaim. The 53rd IFFI also celebrates Mexico and its cinema with the screening of 7 Mexican films in various categories.
The 2022 Mexican Film Red Shoes will be competing with 14 other films in the International Competition segment, winner of which is awarded the coveted Golden Peacock. Red Shoes directed by Karlos Eichelmann Kaisar is a film about a farmer who lives an isolated life, receiving the news of his daughter’s death. The film progresses as the farmer tries to navigate through an unfamiliar and alien world to try and bring his daughter’s body home. Among the multiple award nominations the film has received, it was in contention for the Audience Award at Venice International Film Festival.
Still from ‘Red Shoes’
Still from ‘Red Shoes’
Also, in the running for the award for ‘Best Debut Feature Director’ is the Mexican film Island of Lost Girls directed by Ann-Marie Schmidt and Brian Schmidt. The film is a thrilling story of three sisters who find themselves trapped in a sea cave battling gigantic waves and supernatural creatures. The film was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival as well as the Fantasia Festival.
Still from Island of ‘Lost Girls’
Still from Island of ‘Lost Girls’
Other films of Mexican origin marking their presence at IFFI 53 are Blanquita, Sol's Journey, Eami, Pinocchio and Huesera.
About IFFI
The International Film Festival of India , founded in 1952, is among Asia’s most prominent film festivals. The idea of the International Film Festival of India is to celebrate films, the stories they tell and the people behind them. By doing so, we seek to nurture, promote and spread the enlightened appreciation and ardent love for films - far, wide and deep; to build bridges of love, understanding and fraternity among peoples; and to inspire them to scale new peaks of individual and collective excellence.
The festival is conducted every year by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in collaboration with the Entertainment Society of Goa, Government of Goa, the host state. All relevant updates of 53rd IFFI can be obtained on the festival website www.iffigoa.org, on PIB website , social media accounts of IFFI on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and also on social media handles of PIB Goa. Stay tuned, let us keep drinking copiously from the cup of cinematic celebration…and also sharing the joy of it.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Chief Information Commissioner Mr. BimalJulka briefs Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh about the functioning of the CIC during the COVID pandemic
RTI disposal rate had remained unaffected by the pandemic and was even higher than the usual: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Hitting back at the opposition for unsubstantiated observations made by certain senior Congress and other leaders alleging that COVID pandemic had left the various Commissions in Government of India including the Central Information Commission inactive, Union Minister of State  Development of North Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh rebutted with statistical figures to state that, quite contrary to this, the RTI disposal rate had remained unaffected by the pandemic and during certain given intervals of time, the disposal rate was even higher than the usual.
After a review of the functioning of Central Information Commission  with Chief Information Commissioner of India BimalJulka, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the functioning of the Commission had not been interrupted even for a single day during the entire course of the pandemic. In fact, he said, it goes to the credit of the Commission and its functionaries that inthe midst of the pandemic on 15th May this year, the Central Information Commission started entertaining, hearing and disposing of RTIs from the newly created Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, through virtual means.
Citing figures compiled by the Commission, Dr Jitendra Singh said, e-office was extended to the home computers of officers and intensive use of technological tools was implemented for disposal of cases. While, the number of cases disposed of every month during the pandemic remained comparable to the corresponding month of the last year, one glaring example is that of the month of June 2020 when the number of RTI cases disposed of by Central Information Commission was 1785 compared to 1297 cases in the month of June 2019, which in other words indicates that the disposal rate was in fact significantly higher during this period, despite the constraints of COVID pandemic, he said.
Shri Julka informed Dr Jitendra Singh that the various steps taken to facilitate the CIC hearing during the lockdown and partial lockdown included video conferencing, audio conferencing, facilitation of return submission, uploading of the contact details of Deputy Registrars on the website, issue of notices by e-post wherever required, online registration and scrutiny of fresh cases on the same day etc.
Not only this, Chief Information Commissioner informed the Minister that the Commission had also effectively continued its interactive and outreach activities. These, he said, included video conference with civil society representatives and video conferencing with members of National Federation of Information Commissions in India .
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SNC
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